Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
We tried to bind their eyes, bind their eyes from the times.
Oh what a time but to my surprise.
It's was your disguise that brought my demise.
Oh I remember the times, the very look in your eyes.
You cast a shadow and I watch you fall.
You know you can't see me anymore.
Falling fast so slow that we're slowing this down. Just to show you that we're taking our time.
You'll stop a minute to catch your breath.
Wouldn't want you to choke up now.
Think this over! It's starting to creep up my back, I won't last another day.
I regret to inform you that there's no other way, no there's no other way.
What's the matter baby?
You're all uptight. Calvins in a ball on the front seat past eleven on a school night.
I tried to hard not to be so hard on you.
If it's one story lost, then what's left to be said?
We better look ahead.
The worst is over.
We're much better off than the dead.
We better look ahead.
I remember the last time you said.
I am the monster.
I am regret.
Oh, you haven't seen anything yet.
Just wait and think a minute.
Hold it together, we're not dead yet.
I am the monster.
When the peices done fit you make'em fit.
My fight divides regret.
This is what i say to you.
This is what i say to say to you when you say. When you said:
For a moment back there i feel I lost myself.
It's no wonder i can't look back.
Well it's a reckless world.
We're only here filling timelines.
Come bring it back from the past!
I am the calm before the storm...
LOOK OUT! LOOK OUT! ...and there's calamity on the other side.
Oh what a time but to my surprise.
It's was your disguise that brought my demise.
Oh I remember the times, the very look in your eyes.
You cast a shadow and I watch you fall.
You know you can't see me anymore.
Falling fast so slow that we're slowing this down. Just to show you that we're taking our time.
You'll stop a minute to catch your breath.
Wouldn't want you to choke up now.
Think this over! It's starting to creep up my back, I won't last another day.
I regret to inform you that there's no other way, no there's no other way.
What's the matter baby?
You're all uptight. Calvins in a ball on the front seat past eleven on a school night.
I tried to hard not to be so hard on you.
If it's one story lost, then what's left to be said?
We better look ahead.
The worst is over.
We're much better off than the dead.
We better look ahead.
I remember the last time you said.
I am the monster.
I am regret.
Oh, you haven't seen anything yet.
Just wait and think a minute.
Hold it together, we're not dead yet.
I am the monster.
When the peices done fit you make'em fit.
My fight divides regret.
This is what i say to you.
This is what i say to say to you when you say. When you said:
For a moment back there i feel I lost myself.
It's no wonder i can't look back.
Well it's a reckless world.
We're only here filling timelines.
Come bring it back from the past!
I am the calm before the storm...
LOOK OUT! LOOK OUT! ...and there's calamity on the other side.
Lyrics submitted by xSternx
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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No Surprises
Radiohead
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
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"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
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